family & marriage
Facts
The sanctity of marriage is at the center of today's culture war in America. Social conservatives see marriage being attacked by a disintegration of family values and by the advent of gay marriage. Others claim that marriage is making a bit of a comeback and that gay-marriages, rather than harming the santity of marriage, reinforce it.
General
How many Americans are married:
- 120.2 million Americans are married (2000) (54% of population 15 years +) (Census).
Percent of couples that are unmarried. Unmarried couples that live together (NORC) make up:
- 1997: 7% of all couples; 4.1% of all families
- 1990: 5.1% of all couples; 3.1% of all families
- 1980: 3.1% of all couples; 2% of all families
Same sex couples
Number of unmarried same sex couples living together in the US (Census):
- 777 thousand (0.7% of all households) - compared to 5.2 million unmarried heterosexual households.
Gender of unmarried couples. Of the 5.5 million unmarried couples that lived together in 2000 (Census)
- 87.4% were male/female couples;
- 6.4% were both males;
- 6.2% were both females.
Number of same-sex couples that have married (in Massachusetts, the only state that currently permits same sex marriage):
- 8,000 (AP)
Divorces
Adults who have married and divorced (NORC):
- In 1998: 26% of all adults, 33% of those who have been married;
- In 1990: 25% of all adults, 31% of those who have been married;
- In 1980: 18% of all adults, 21% of those who have been married.
Number of men divorced by 40 years old among: (Census)
- 65-70 year-olds: 23%
- 60-65 year-olds: 27%
- 55-60 year-olds: 31%
- 50-55 year-olds: 31%
- 45-50 year-olds: 26%
Number of women divorced by 40 years old among: (Census)
- 65-70 year-olds: 23%
- 60-65 year-olds: 27%
- 55-60 year-olds: 33%
- 50-55 year-olds: 35%
- 45-50 year-olds: 32%
Kids
Of families with children, those that are headed by married couples (DOS):
- 1998: 72.7%;
- 1980: 80.5%.
Children born to unmarried mothers (NORC):
- 1996: 32.4% of all children;
- 1990: 28% of all children;
- 1980: 18.4% of all children.
Children who lived with married parents (NORC):
- 1998: 64% of all children (12% live with remarried parent)
- 1990: 74% of all children(18% live with remarried parent)
- 1980: 74% of all children(13% live with remarried parent)
How are kids doing? One indicator: illicit drug use of 12th graders (ChildStats):
- 1998: 25.6%
- 1990: 17.2%
- 1980: 37.2%
Where the fact are from:
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Census - US Census Bureau - government site
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ChildStats - government site
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DOS - Department of State - government site
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NORC - National Organization for Research at the University of Chicago
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